How to Defend against Fast Attackers

Free Soccer Training video focused on How to Defend against Fast Attackers. At Online Soccer Academy (OSA) we make BETTER Soccer Players / Football Players through FREE soccer tutorials. We inspire athletes that if you Believe in it® and back that up with hard work, anything in life is possible.

How to Defend against Fast Attackers

Today in the Online Soccer Academy training video we are learning how to defend against fast attackers. We are indoors today.

This will not be an easy thing to practice by yourself but you can do it. It will be more of a mental exercise with in a physical exercise.

If you are not as fast as the attackers you are playing against, then you need to be faster mentally to get the edge on them. First we will set up the exercise and then I will give you a few tips on how to be faster mentally and read the game quicker then your opponent.

Exercise Player Can Do:

Stand in one area, that will be your start cone. Imagine you are standing next to an attacker you are defending. Then pretend there is a midfielder about 30 yards ahead of you. They are going to play a ball over the top into space for their attacker to run onto. That midfielder thinks their attacker is faster then you and they will beat you for speed. We need to stop that from happening. The exercise is, you stand there, on your toes, then as the imaginary attacker is about to pass it, you take off running into space. Run about 20 yards, then come back and repeat. Do this 10 times.

Key Points:

1. Stand goal side of your defender. Make sure you are between the defender and the goal.

2. Don't get right on his back. Stand an arms length away with your arm out making contact on the defender. If you are to tight on him, he will turn you and use his body to spin you.

3. When you see that midfielder put their head down to pass the ball over the top you start running in the direction it's going. Get a 1-2 second head start on the forward turning and running. Don't wait for the ball to be kicked and then run. That's when the attacker will be running. You need to start before she does.

4. When you turn and run to chase the ball down, push off your attacker. Don't foul them, but give them a little push. That pushes them backward and you forward. Don't push them like you are trying to start a fight, but a little push off that is disguised in your running technique when you take off.

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong:

If in a game an attacker is constantly turning you and beating you to the ball then you are to tight on them. Don't be right up her back. Give her an arms length distance so that attacker feels pressure but it gives you a few steps head start.

Also don't be scared to be physical and give a little push off as you take off running.

Bonus Tip!

Yes, you can improve running speed but at some point you are not going to be able to go faster. Where you can go faster and constantly be improving your speed is in your mind! Think fast in your mind and that will increase the chance of you successfully defending against fast attackers.